Isobel had been at the library with Ingrid, Indigo, and Illiana when TJ called her, telling her about the new house guests they were to be expecting later. She was very excited to meet Rebel and Sadie, especially because Emily had said Rebel reminded her of Isobel. She was also looking forward to meeting baby Sadie—it had been an extraordinarily long time since she'd even been around a baby girl.

Because of her excitement, as soon as she was done with her school courses, she parted ways with her squad and went home to clean. True enough, Emily had gone crazy with nesting just that weekend, but when Isobel was anxious, she cleaned.

Just after five, Isobel got a text from Emily, asking her to meet her at a hotel, downtown. Curious, Isobel agreed to meet her.

It didn't take Isobel too long to spot Emily in the lobby.

"Hey." Isobel greeted her when they drew level with each other. "How are you?"

"I've had a long day, and it feels like your dad and I have gained two more daughters."

"Rebel and Sadie?"

Emily nodded. "Mhm."

"It'll be fun to have a sister and an itty-bitty sidekick in the house for a week."

"You want to make friends with Isobel, but you also want to be around Sadie so you can hold her, huh?"

Isobel grinned sheepishly. "Guilty. It'll also give me practice for Ladybug and Sprout."

"You know, your dad referred to your sister and your brother as Batman and Robin today."

"Oh, my God." Isobel sighed. "What a nerd."

"You're telling me. I do like Ladybug and Sprout better than Batman and Robin, though."

"Fantastic. When are you and dad going to give them actual names, though?"

"That's the million dollar question."

"Dad told me once that even though I was named after my mother's mother and his own mother, it still took him a week to come up with Isobel Cassandra."

Emily winced and then laughed. "I'll do everything I can to make sure your siblings don't go that long without first names."

"Good."

Isobel glanced around the lobby.

"Not that I don't enjoy hanging out with you, but what are we doing in the Marriott Hotel?"

"Rebel and Sadie are in this hotel, and Rebel said she'd text me the room number when I got here. I'm just waiting on that message now."

"And I'm here to be the muscle since you and Rebel are both pregnant mamas?"

"You got it."

"I—"

Isobel's reply was cut off by a DING! sound—Emily's Apple Watch had indicated the arrival of the text that she'd been waiting on. After sending a reply, Emily beckoned to Isobel to follow her across the lobby towards a hallway.

"Come on, Izzy—they're this way, in Room 16M."

Rebel answered the door of her hotel room quickly. She looked in much better spirits than when Emily had seen her earlier that day, and Emily immediately felt a huge weight lifted off her shoulders.

"How are you doing, sweetheart?" Emily asked when Rebel let them in and closed the door behind them. "You're smiling more."

Rebel beamed and blushed immediately. "I feel a lot better, like I'm finally beginning my fresh start."

Emily hugged her. "Then allow me to further your fresh start by introducing you to Isobel. She's been waiting since February to meet you."

She stepped back and watched Isobel approach Rebel.

"I'm really happy to meet you, Rebel." Isobel told her. "You've got a lot of siblings, right?"

"Seven, to be precise, and they're all older than me."

"Are you close with them?"

Rebel nodded. "I am. I always have been."

"Well, I know they're all back in New York, but since you're going to be staying with us, and you and Sadie are going to be our next door neighbors come Sunday, I can be your DC sister. If you'd like."

Rebel suddenly looked like she was going to cry. "I'd like that a lot."

"Good. Can I hug you?"

"Of course."

Emily watched the two new friends hug, like they'd known each other their entire lives. She'd always heard tales of Isobel's compassion for other people, and she'd seen it in action, but for some reason, watching her be kind to Rebel just made her feel very proud.

She said nothing and continued to watch the two of them.

"Hey." Rebel said brightly when they pulled apart. "Do you want to meet Sadie?"

"Where is she?" Isobel asked, looking around.

"Over here, in the crib."

Rebel moved to a portable crib between the two beds in the room and scooped her up into her arms to hold. Straightening out the wrinkles in her daughter's dress, Rebel rounded the bed and walked back to Isobel.

Sadie regarded Isobel with interest, but turned back to her mother, fixing her with an inquiring look.

"This, my tiny love," Rebel said to Sadie. "Is Auntie Isobel. She's our friend."

Somehow, Sadie understood this and leaned to Isobel with her arms outstretched.

Rebel grinned. "I think someone likes you, Isobel."

"Wow."

Very gently, Isobel lifted Sadie from Rebel's arms to her own and held her comfortably.

"Hi, baby girl." Isobel cooed to her. "I'm so happy to meet you, too."

Sadie smiled happily and cuddled up to Isobel and sighed in contentment, resting her head on her shoulder. Isobel just turned to mush and gave the baby a back rub.

Emily and Rebel stared.

"What?" Isobel said. "I'm a baby whisperer."

Emily shook her head in wonder. "I know you did a lot of theater work with little ones, but I'm just learning new things about you every day, kid."

Rebel remarked, "Sadie's been on an 'ignoring mummy' kick lately because I think she's realized I'm pregnant, but she doesn't take to people as fast as she's taken to you."

Isobel gave Sadie an extra cuddle. "Like I said—I'm a baby whisperer. You should see me with my little cousins."

Emily sighed, but only because it meant that she had to break the situation up.

"Rebel, do you have everything packed up?" she asked.

The teenager looked around and saw a few more things that she'd left out.

"One moment!"

A half hour later, Rebel had successfully checked out of her hotel room, and she and Sadie had ridden with Emily and Isobel to Number 24 Old Promenade Road. To Rebel, it felt a little odd because her own house was right next door, but she dashed the thought just as quickly because Emily had taken her and Sadie in without a second thought. Had she not, they'd still be at the hotel, and in a word, homeless.

Once Isobel had shown Rebel where to put her things away, she took charge of the luggage.

"My dad isn't home yet, but come on—I'll take your stuff upstairs, and show you where yours and Sadie's room is!"

"Alright!"

Emily watched them go, chattering away about things teenage girls chattered about, as they went.

Suddenly, a soft meowing reached her ears. Looking down, Emily saw Tinker Bell perched on the bench by the coat rack, and as per usual, when somebody new walked into the house, she made the indication that she wanted to be hugged. Emily obliged her and even picked her up.

"Come on, baby girl." she said, carrying her towards the kitchen. "Daddy will be home soon. Let's go see what we should make for dinner."

Tinker Bell just purred.

Sure enough, TJ was home less than twenty minutes later.

He found Emily in the kitchen, in the beginnings of preparing her famous gnocchi casserole.

Emily paused and looked up when she saw TJ.

"Hey, babe!"

That was as far as she got before he pulled her away from the stove and leaned her against the counter, supporting her in his arms and kissing her soundly. Emily moaned into the kiss, lost in the feeling for a moment, but she came right back down to earth when she felt the babies kicking her.

"Oh, they're at it again." she groaned. "Feel."

"Where?" TJ asked, eagerly.

"Here."

Emily put TJ's hand on the upper left side of her big middle and pressed down. They were immediately greeted with a sharp heel kick from their daughter, and then a second one from their son, who was annoyed at having been woken up.

Emily let out a frustrated whimper. "I'm so ready for them to just be in my arms. Being pregnant is the best feeling, but it's also the hardest thing I've ever done."

"I can finish, if you want to go have a lie-down upstairs." TJ offered quickly, wanting to stave off any oncoming meltdowns, just in case.

"That's okay. The kids have just been extra jumpy all day because of Rebel and Sadie."

TJ looked around. "Are they here?"

Emily nodded. "They're upstairs with Isobel, and they're having a ball. Even Tinker Bell wandered up there a little while ago."

"So I take it they've settled in, huh, if the cat went to look for them?"

"That about sums it up. Rebel is so happy, and I think Sadie has become smitten with Isobel."

"Really, now?"

"Yep. Sadie is eight months old, and she turns to putty immediately if Isobel even looks at her. She also clings to her like a baby koala if Isobel holds her."

"So basically how Michael acts around you."

"Yes, exactly." Emily physically turned TJ around and gave him a gentle pat on his rear. "How about you get changed and come help me? I can fill you in on Rebel's whole situation, and you can tell me about your trip tomorrow. The kids will show up when they get hungry."

"Sounds like a good idea, Mia. I'll be back in two shakes of a lamb's tail."

TJ made it upstairs to put away his things, shower, change into more comfortable clothes, and go back downstairs without notice from Isobel, Rebel, Sadie, or even Tinker Bell. That gave him and Emily plenty of time to talk about what would be happening in the upcoming week, especially everything that had gone down with Rebel and Sadie.

When they were done, TJ noticed that Emily stayed quiet longer than him.

TJ paused with the salad he was making and looked at his girlfriend. "Everything okay, Mia?"

She smiled and nodded. "Yep. There's just one thing I haven't said, regarding our house guests."

"No? Rebel was kicked out, but ran away from home, anyway, and she's pregnant even though she already has a baby that is eight months old; her ex is nuts and will probably turn up at some point to look for her; and you, your team, and our families are fostering Rebel and her children, since Rebel isn't on proper speaking terms with her parents. What else is there?"

"I'll tell you, but you can't tell anyone, especially Rebel or Isobel."

"I'm a vault."

"Dave is playing the role of generous uncle/anonymous benefactor, and he's going to pay off whatever outstanding debt Rebel has on her house to help her out, and to keep her from going into debt before she's twenty-one."

"Wow—that's really generous. Wasn't Dave also the one who threw JJ a surprise wedding?"

Emily nodded. "Yep, and what's more is that he knows Rebel's landlord very well."

"Oh?"

"Her name is Amalie D'Agostino, and they grew up together on Long Island, way back in the day; they were best friends, and he described her as the one who got away."

"What happened?"

"Long story short: he fought in Vietnam, and she joined the Peace Corps. They met other people, and lived lives without each other."

"What's the plot twist? A story like this has to have one."

"Dave and Amalie both moved to town without realizing it until she sold him the place he lives in right now."

TJ arched an eyebrow, impressed. "That's fate, that is."

"I should say so. Dave called while you were upstairs, and he asked me to wish him luck because fate has prevailed even more—Amalie is actually single, so Dave is taking her on a date later tonight, to catch up on old times, and to talk about Rebel's house."

"Aww. Are you playing the role of doting daughter, waiting by the phone to hear how things went?"

"Yes, and even if he doesn't call me, I'll still wheedle it out of him tomorrow."

"I was close with my old man like that."

Emily kissed TJ's cheek. "All this to say that now you know why I'm probably going to have my head up in the clouds for the rest of the night."

"That is a-okay." he kissed her. "Let's finish making dinner now."

When they were almost done, Isobel arrived in the kitchen, with Rebel and Sadie. Even Tinker Bell slinked in behind them.

"Hi, dad." Isobel chirped when she saw him, immediately moving to indicate her companions. "This is Rebel, and her baby girl, Sadie."

Rebel walked up to TJ and held a hand out. "I'm happy to meet you, TJ. Thanks for having us here."

TJ shook hands with her. "Any friends of Emily's and Isobel's are new friends of mine. I know you're going to be our next door neighbor at the end of the week, but please, consider yourself and your kids part of our family here—kids to Emily and I, a sister to Isobel, and whatever else to the little ones."

"Oh, thank you." Rebel immediately felt like she was about to cry, but she maintained her composure, nevertheless. "I've made friends with Emily and her team, and Isobel has already been like another sister to me. Sadie loves everyone, and I think she's taken with your cat because the cat was hugging her…"

"Yeah, Tinker Bell is a serious lovebug. We've never been able to figure out why she likes to hug."

Rebel grinned. "Well, thanks for having us, TJ. I'm glad we can be friends."

"Me, too. Please make yourself at home—I'm going to be gone from tomorrow until Saturday for a work thing, but I think Emily and Isobel will be more than happy to look after you. Don't be afraid to ask for help."

TJ turned to Isobel.

"Can you set the table, please? Maybe show Rebel where everything is?"

Isobel bobbed her head in understanding, and moved to the other side of the room, where the silverware was kept. Rebel followed her, wanting to learn the layout of the kitchen. Over her mother's shoulder, Sadie was watching TJ, and when he waved to her, she burst into giggles and looked away.

Emily was watching in amusement. "Maybe it's just a family thing that you, Izzy, and I can get babies to turn to putty without trying too hard."

"Now there's a fun family trait." TJ joked. "I'm good with all babies, but you should really see me with a baby girl. I really hope I can play with Sadie later."

He kissed his girlfriend and then turned to the stove to work on the finishing touches on the food, while Emily, not for the first time, found herself wondering what TJ had been like when he had been raising baby Isobel all by himself.

TJ's hope to hang out with Sadie came true, not long after dinner.

The family was camped out in the living room, enjoying time together. Emily was stretched out on the couch, knitting a nearly-completed baby blanket (she already had another one completed), while Isobel and Rebel sat on the floor, opposite each other. Their legs were spread out, and the tips of their toes were touching each other's, forming a diamond shape, and in between them sat Sadie, who was happily absorbed in the books and toys in front of her. Isobel and Rebel were giggling about who knew what, and Sadie just looked very happy.

TJ sat nearby, watching them. A full house like this was just what he'd always wanted.

He'd also learned many things over the years about being a single dad to a daughter, and one of those things was to learn how to speak Girl, which was why he eventually found himself listening to a conversation of Isobel's and Rebel's, and understanding it.

Rebel was looking at her fingernails, judging them. "You're right, Izzy. I do want to get them done."

"I'm really good at doing nails."

She showed Isobel her nails: today, they had a blue background with a white crisscross pattern.

"I did this, myself, and last week, I gave JJ a manicure and a pedicure, and her nails are dark red now." Isobel pointed over to Emily. "I gave Emily a manicure and a pedicure, too, on the same day I did it for JJ."

Right on cue, Emily paused in her knitting and held out a hand for Rebel to see her nails.

"See?" Isobel said. "They're plum-colored now."

"My toes, too." Emily said, going back to her knitting.

Rebel turned her attention back to Isobel. "Wow. Nova and Talia have always done my nails for me because I'm just all thumbs, but you're better than they are."

Isobel chuckled. "I have a lifetime in the stage theater to thank for that. Would you like me to do yours now?"

"Sure, but…"

She looked to Sadie, who was still entertaining herself. This was where TJ jumped in.

"Emily and I can look after Sadie while you go upstairs with Isobel." he said. "Go have some fun."

"Alright." she looked to Sadie again. "I'm going to hang out with Auntie Isobel, okay, little one? Uncle TJ and Auntie Emily will mind you now."

Sadie just giggled and returned to her things, so Rebel made a quiet exit with Isobel while TJ switched places with her. It didn't take Sadie too long to get used to him, and soon, she was leaning against him while she navigated through a soft baby book. At TJ's feet sat Tinker Bell, watching them.

Even Emily paused in her knitting to watch TJ and Sadie.

Just was quickly as Sadie had picked up her book, she had cast it aside and was now working on standing up because she wanted to walk.

"Okay, baby girl." TJ said, transitioning to standing on his knees and pulling Sadie into a standing position. "I see you."

Quick as a mouse, he helped Sadie wrap her tiny fingers around one of his on each hand and then gave her a gentle nudge.

"Come on, Sadie. You can do it—oh, good girl."

Very wobbly, but just as confident, Sadie began putting one foot in front of the other, making little steps. Cottoning on, Tinker Bell, got up, stretched, and began slinking along very slowly in front of Sadie, as if encouraging her to follow her. Quite enticed, Sadie babbled loudly and worked on following her furry friend around the room.

"Incredible." Emily said to TJ.

"Well, I did teach Isobel to crawl and walk, albeit in unorthodox ways."

"How do you mean?"

"I showed her how to army crawl, but she really took to it when I started lining Cheerios up in front of her."

"You did what?"

TJ shrugged. "She actually moved faster when I brought food into the equation, so it worked."

"How did you get her to walk?"

"I started Isobel in Gymboree play classes very early, and worked with her on coordination skills—the teachers were extra helpful, since it was just me raising her on my own. Once she had the coordination and balance to stand on her own, I'd hold some of her favorite things out in front of her, not too far, and she would make for them, right quick. The better she got, the further back I'd move. She also learned to run that way."

"Wow. That's really clever."

TJ grinned. "The more interesting story is that Isobel started giving me heart palpitations when she was a toddler."

"How?!"

"The summer Olympics in Australia were on, and she was fascinated by everything, but gymnastics was her favorite, and she started copying the gymnasts who were doing flips and cartwheels."

"You're kidding. Theodore, the Australian Olympics were in 2000. Izzy had to have been two."

"She was, and somehow, she figured out how to do what the gymnasts were doing."

Emily laughed. "So she's always been a superstar."

"Her first word was 'wow.' I kid you not."

"I say that about her at least once a week—oh, I think the little miss wants your attention."

TJ looked at Sadie. She was whining and tugging at his hands.

"Okay, Sadie." he said gently. "You can let go."

He helped her loosen her grip on him and let go, and instead of plunking down, Sadie moved all by herself to Tinker Bell, who was watching from a few feet away. It was in front of the cat that Sadie sat. After a moment of contemplating, Tinker Bell closed the gap between them and snuggled up to Sadie, laying down in her lap. TJ sat behind Sadie for support.

Amazed that Tinker Bell was so close to her, Sadie's mouth dropped open.

"Pet her like this."

TJ took one of Sadie's tiny hands in his and showed her how to pet Tinker Bell. Quite happy, Tinker Bell moved closer to Sadie and closed her eyes in enjoyment.

"Good girl." TJ praised Sadie. "Tinker Bell is very friendly, and she likes it when people are gentle with her."

Sadie just continued to be enthralled by the cat and how soft she was. She even started to giggle when she felt the vibrations of her purrs beneath her hand.

Emily watched TJ and Sadie get lost in their own world with Tinker Bell. She'd seen TJ hang out plenty with Henry and Michael, and that was always fun to watch.

But there was something that was just… different about seeing him with a smaller baby, and it made her happy.

She couldn't wait to see how he was with their babies.